据了解，在2014年4月18日，/生物谷BIOON/ --安斯泰来(Astellas)和默沙东(Merck & Co)4月17日联合宣布，在日本推出糖尿病新药Suglat(25mg，50mg，Ipragliflozin L-Proline)。

　　Suglat是一种选择性钠葡萄糖同转运蛋白2(SGLT2)遏制剂，由安斯泰来与日本Kotobuki制药通过合作研究发现并共同开发。Suglat于2014年1月获日本批准，用于2型糖尿病患者的治疗，是日本获批的**SGLT2遏制剂。

　　安斯泰来将生产和销售Suglat并与Kotobuki制药和默沙东联合推广。

　　SGLT是一类膜蛋白，存在于细胞表面，能够将葡萄糖转运至细胞内。SGLT有2种亚型，即SGLT1和SGLT2，分别分布于小肠粘膜和肾小管。 SGLT2在近端肾小管葡萄糖再吸收中发挥着关键作用。Suglat通过选择性遏制SGLT2，使肾小管中的葡萄糖不能顺利重吸收进入血液而随尿液排出，从而降低血糖浓度。

　　Suglat作为单药疗法及与其他药物(6种)联合用药的疗效和安全性，已在一项关键性III期试验及数个临床试验中得到证实。(生物谷Bioon.com)

　　英文原文：Astellas, MSD launch Suglat tablets in Japan to treat type 2 diabetes

　　TOKYO, April 17, 2014 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”; Tokyo:4503; President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka) and MSD K.K. (“MSD” ; President and Representative Director: Tony Alvarez) announced that selective SGLT2 inhibitor Suglat® Tablets 25mg and 50mg (generic name: Ipragliflozin L-Proline, “Suglat® Tablets”) became available for the indication of type 2 diabetes in the Japanese market today.

　　Suglat® Tablets is a selective SGLT2 (Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2) inhibitor discovered through a research collaboration and is being jointly developed by Astellas and Kotobuki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Kotobuki”). SGLTs are membrane proteins that exist on the cell surface and transfer glucose into cells. SGLT2 is one subtype of SGLTs and plays a key role in the reuptake of glucose in the proximal tubule of the kidneys. Suglat® Tablets reduces blood glucose levels by inhibiting the reuptake of glucose by selectively inhibiting SGLT2.

　　Suglat® Tablets is the first SGLT2 inhibitor approved as a treatment for type 2 diabetes in Japan. Astellas will manufacture and sell Suglat® Tablets and co-promote it with Kotobuki and MSD.

　　Astellas and MSD are proud to provide an additional therapeutic option and further contribute to the treatment of type 2 diabetes by introducing Suglat® Tablets, an oral antidiabetic agent for type 2 diabetes with a novel mechanism of action, into the Japanese market.

　　With the objective of prevention of medical accidents, Astellas has adopted the user-friendly artwork on blisters, which make it easy to identify even when PTP sheet is divided, and worked on the improvements of medicine identification with (i) print of product name and dosage on each pocket (each medicine), (ii) ingenuity of letter size and color, (iii) display of efficacy and so on.